Cheapest way to ship meat

[Bear Heart]

Trying to find the best way to ship meat across the country.  Any tricks that will save a few bucks?

[jwingman]

If your talking about coming back from a hunt with meat, ship your clothes and carry your meat. When we came back from an elk hunt, we luckily had time to go to the local butcher shop and get the meat frozen before we had to leave. We packed it in our duffel bags and brought it back on the plane. When in the air, the cargo hold is cold anyway. We had good luck and got all the meat home from Colorado to New York and took it home and put it in the freezer. You may not be able to get yours frozen based on when you get your animal but if you can, it is one alternative you can look into. Hope it helps.

[LKH]

jwingman, if you get caught (meat thaws and bleeds out into the cargo hold) you can be held liable for damage.  It would require processes to remove corrosive agents (blood) from the plane.  Expect bill to be in the thousands.  

Next time buy some cheap coolers.

[Ausable]

I check mine same as jwingman, 50# limit per bag/box if flying NWA so you need to keep that in mind.

[Billy]

ok, with out trying to hi-jack here...

let's say you can't go straight home but, could send it to someone there...what would be cheapest that way?

[Richie Nell]

If you can pay the extra costs for a third checked bag, buy three 25ish quart ice chests...put frozen meat in it and check all three.  They will be around 50 lbs. each and it will be MUCH cheaper and quicker than having three ice chests shipped to you.  

I learned the hard way last year.  It cost me $400 to ship 150 lbs of wonderful elk meat in three ice chests from Colorado to Alabama.
It took two days.  I know what I will do different next time.  

And if the meat is not frozen the airlines will allow dry ice.

[Richie Nell]

That was if you were going straight home...sorry

The cheapest rate I got last year was with USPS.  I checked everyone.

[akbowbender]

On Alaska Airlines, maybe others, there is a limit on the amount of dry ice you can use. I think you can have 5 lbs. max.

[geno]

what ak said is correct for other airlines as well.

[Bear Heart]

thanks fellas

[Richie Nell]

Oh yea 5 lbs. is all they allow because it takes about 10 lbs. to make a bomb.

[BobCo 1965]

We ran into the same delima a few years ago and ended up just taking my van. 26 hour drive for us which isn't as bad as you would think. I ended up putting an air matress (which exploded in the elevation BTW)in the back and we took 5 hour driving shifts. We also took as many coolers as we could borrow.    :D

[killinstuff]

I think in one of Jim Zumbo's books on hunting out west he has a chapter on shipping meat home. Good info.

[Dave2old]

Cheapest way? Well, first you turn it all into jerky, which averages 2 ounces per pound. Not only do you save on weight, but no refrigeration necessary! Of course, you're looking at several days to jerk an average deer, and several weeks for an elk! I personally eat as much of it as possible right there in the field ... also cuts down on pack-out weight. (-:]~

[chris K.]

small and large colon

[Bert Frelink]

Dear Mr Bear Heart,
First get the meat on the ground and then worry about getting it home.
Maybe get it frozen, packed in dry ice, pack it in some good coolers and then drive like H...
Regards, Bert